102 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



and considerate attention. This nuisance, this destroyer 

 of vegetation and pest of human society, deserves the 

 censure of every honest and right-thinking individual, 

 as well as the condemnation of the law. 



A few remarks upon the motives which prompted 

 the sparrow's introduction into this country, and also 

 upon the propriety of such a course of action, cannot be 

 deemed inappropriate, or misplaced. In treating this 

 theme I must necessarily restrict what I have to say to 

 facts brought within the sphere of personal observation, 

 although other fields of research, outside of my imme- 

 diate circle of vision, will receive considerable attention. 



Let us now ask ourselves the question: What led to 

 the sparrow's introduction? The answer thereto must 

 certainly be apparent to the mind of every one who has 

 kept his eyes open to his surroundings. For years ante- 

 cedent to this event, the linden and other trees in our 

 public squares and parks had been sorely infested by the 

 span-worm, and other caterpillars of near and remote 

 affinities, much to the disgust of pedestrians, and to the 

 detriment of the trees. These, particularly the former, 

 had multiplied to such an alarming extent, that they 

 had become a downright public nuisance. The trees 

 were literally filled with caterpillars, and thousands 

 dangled from the ends of long silken threads into the 

 faces of passers-by, or crawled their ugly lengths upon 

 the forms of persons of delicate feelings and refined 

 tastes. 



In the midst of this unhappy state of things, the au- 

 thorities, aroused somewhat from the lethargy into 

 which they had fallen, began to revolve in their minds 

 the expediency of getting rid of these pests and destroy- 

 ers, and the means of accomplishing the desired object. 



